Russian mobile operator Mobile TeleSystems (MTS) has won a licence to launch a new satellite DTH service across the country.
Via its subsidiary Digital Broadcasting, MTS secured the rights to broadcast free-to-air services across Russia. MTS is expected…
Russian mobile operator Mobile TeleSystems (MTS) has won a licence to launch a new satellite DTH service across the country.
Via its subsidiary Digital Broadcasting, MTS secured the rights to broadcast free-to-air services across Russia. MTS is expected to launch its satellite platform in the fourth quarter of 2014.
Russian communications regulator Roskomnadzor launched the tender for a new satellite broadcasting licence at the beginning of the year. MTS’ application in mid-July was the only one submitted, according to local reports.
The mobile operator will pay a one-time fee of Rbs90m (US$2.7m) for the rights to broadcast using the 17.3-18.1GHz and 11.7-12.5GHz frequency bands via a transponder on Asia Broadcast Satellite’s ABS-2 satellite.
Russia’s DTH market is currently dominated by Tricolor TV, NTV-Plus and Orion Express. The latter has been searching for a strategic partner to expand its offering and MTS has frequently been linked to it in the past.
ABS-2 Russian beam suffers anomaly
Launched in February 2014 and constructed by Space Systems Loral, ABS-2 has 89 active C-, Ku- and Ka-band transponders, including six dedicated high powered Ku-band beams for DTH services in the eastern hemisphere, one of which is focused on Russia.
The company recently suffered an anomaly on this Russian beam which affected some of its channels. An ABS spokeswoman said the company and SSL were still working to fix the issue but were “able to restore most of the traffic and the satellite is providing good down link power”.
She added that ABS-2A is due to be launched in 2015 and will act as a backup and expansion satellite to ABS-2 at the 75E orbital slot.
